• Sultan Al Neyadi, the Emirati astronaut who is heading to the International Space Station - seen here with his three crewmates - arrives at the launch site at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. All photos: Sarwat Nasir / The National
    Sultan Al Neyadi, the Emirati astronaut who is heading to the International Space Station - seen here with his three crewmates - arrives at the launch site at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. All photos: Sarwat Nasir / The National
  • From right: Stephen Bowen, Woody Hoburg, Dr Al Neyadi and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev
    From right: Stephen Bowen, Woody Hoburg, Dr Al Neyadi and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev
  • Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space and Dr Al Neyadi's back-up astronaut for the mission, waves to the camera
    Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space and Dr Al Neyadi's back-up astronaut for the mission, waves to the camera
  • The Crew-6 astronauts disembark a Nasa plane at the Kennedy Space Centre
    The Crew-6 astronauts disembark a Nasa plane at the Kennedy Space Centre
  • Dr Al Neyadi said he will take lots of delicious dates to space with him
    Dr Al Neyadi said he will take lots of delicious dates to space with him
  • Salem Al Marri, director-general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, right, with his Nasa colleagues during the ceremony
    Salem Al Marri, director-general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, right, with his Nasa colleagues during the ceremony
  • Dr Al Neyadi with the mission's commander, Stephen Bowen
    Dr Al Neyadi with the mission's commander, Stephen Bowen
  • The astronauts give brief speeches during the event
    The astronauts give brief speeches during the event
  • Dr Al Neyadi said that he 'couldn't believe it was real' but that he and his crew were ready for the mission
    Dr Al Neyadi said that he 'couldn't believe it was real' but that he and his crew were ready for the mission
  • Mr Al Marri briefed the audience on the UAE's space ambitions
    Mr Al Marri briefed the audience on the UAE's space ambitions
  • Adnan Al Rais, the manager for the UAE Space Mission 2, was also in attendance
    Adnan Al Rais, the manager for the UAE Space Mission 2, was also in attendance
  • Maj Al Mansouri was there to support his colleague as back-up astronaut for the mission
    Maj Al Mansouri was there to support his colleague as back-up astronaut for the mission
  • After the ceremony, the crew boarded a vehicle that took them to quarantine
    After the ceremony, the crew boarded a vehicle that took them to quarantine
  • The crew board a vehicle to go to their quarantine quarters
    The crew board a vehicle to go to their quarantine quarters
  • Dr Al Neyadi is being supported by his colleagues at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, many who are attending the launch in Florida. Photo: Mbrsc
    Dr Al Neyadi is being supported by his colleagues at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, many who are attending the launch in Florida. Photo: Mbrsc

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi arrives in Florida for space mission as new launch date set


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has arrived at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida ahead of his historic flight to the International Space Station.

The original Sunday launch was pushed back by one day and will now take place on Monday, February 27, at 10.45am GST.

An event took place on Tuesday at a landing strip near the launch site, where Dr Al Neyadi and his three Crew-6 crewmates disembarked from a Nasa plane that brought them over from Houston, Texas, where they had been training for the mission.

The National was on-site to document the event and is going to be providing insider access throughout the week before the launch.

Dr Al Neyadi, 42, is set to embark on a six-month mission to the orbiting science laboratory, the first Arab to go on a long-duration space mission and the fourth Arab in space.

During the ceremony, he spoke about his excitement about being only days away from taking off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

“It's actually a privilege,” said Dr Al Neyadi, who will be carrying out 19 science experiments assigned to him by several UAE universities.

“I can't believe that this is really happening and you only realise that when you fly by the launch pad where you see the preparations.

“It's becoming real. So, we can't thank enough everybody that helped and prepared us for this mission.

“I think we are ready physically, mentally and technically. And we can't wait to launch to space and conduct the mission.”

Years of training come to fruition

Dr Al Neyadi is heading to space with two Nasa astronauts, Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

Only Commander Bowen is an experienced astronaut, having logged more than 40 days in space, including seven spacewalks.

Dr Al Neyadi was the first of two astronauts that the UAE selected in 2018.

His colleague Hazza Al Mansouri became the first Emirati in space in 2019.

Both have been training since then around the world, including in Russia, parts of Europe, Canada and Japan, and have completed Nasa's basic astronaut training programme.

Commander Bowen said that he was “impressed” with the qualities of the Emirati astronauts.

“I met Sultan and Hazza at Star City when I was training in a Soyuz,” he said.

“I've always been impressed with the individuals and the culture they bring to it as well.”

Sharing Emirati culture

Dr Al Neyadi said he was looking forward to sharing Emirati cuisines with his colleagues on the space station.

He has not revealed the items on the menu yet, but did say he was taking dates with him.

“In terms of the food, I can only probably say dates. I love dates,” he said.

“Hopefully I'm going to share the dates with everybody, especially in Ramadan.

“This is a request from the commander and I can't say no to my commander.”

What will they do until launch day?

Now that the crew are in Florida, they will spend their remaining time before the launch in quarantine.

They will also carry out a rehearsal for launch day, called “dress day”.

The crew will wear their SpaceX pressure suits, ride to the launch pad in Teslas and then board an unfuelled rocket.

What's on launch day?

The National will be on-site when the astronauts leave their quarantine quarters on launch day.

They will say goodbye to their families one last time before heading to the launch pad.

The lift-off will take place at pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre.

It will be streamed live by Nasa, SpaceX and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.

Launch delayed by a day

The launch was meant to happen on February 26, but that has slipped by a day to February 27, 10.45am GST.

SpaceX said during a flight readiness review press conference that they needed the extra time for launch preparations.

The Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon Crew Capsule on top will be rolled out to the launch pad on Wednesday.

A static fire test - a ground test where the engines of the rocket are fired - will be carried out on Friday.

There are other back-up launch dates on February 28, March 2, 3 and 4.

There is a 10 per cent chance of rain on February 27 and 28.

Sultan Al Neyadi in his SpaceX astronaut suit — in pictures

  • The official SpaceX profile photo of UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who is travelling to space on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on February 26 for a six-month mission to the International Space Station. All photos: SpaceX
    The official SpaceX profile photo of UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who is travelling to space on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on February 26 for a six-month mission to the International Space Station. All photos: SpaceX
  • Dr Al Neyadi trains inside a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
    Dr Al Neyadi trains inside a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
  • Dr Al Neyadi, right, with his SpaceX Crew-6 colleagues for a training session in January at SpaceX headquarters in California.
    Dr Al Neyadi, right, with his SpaceX Crew-6 colleagues for a training session in January at SpaceX headquarters in California.
  • A UAE flag on Dr Al Neyadi's SpaceX pressure suit.
    A UAE flag on Dr Al Neyadi's SpaceX pressure suit.
  • Dr Al Neyadi wearing a SpaceX pressure suit, which he will wear during his flight to the International Space Station on February 26 and on his flight back to Earth six months later.
    Dr Al Neyadi wearing a SpaceX pressure suit, which he will wear during his flight to the International Space Station on February 26 and on his flight back to Earth six months later.
  • He will be launching on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 26 from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
    He will be launching on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 26 from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
  • Dr Al Neyadi inside a replica of a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule during a training session in January, 2023.
    Dr Al Neyadi inside a replica of a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule during a training session in January, 2023.
  • Dr Al Neyadi, right, and his SpaceX Crew-6 colleagues.
    Dr Al Neyadi, right, and his SpaceX Crew-6 colleagues.
  • Dr Al Neyadi has been training in different parts of the US, Europe and Japan to prepare for his space mission.
    Dr Al Neyadi has been training in different parts of the US, Europe and Japan to prepare for his space mission.
  • Nasa astronaut Stephen Bowen pictured next to Dr Al Neyadi.
    Nasa astronaut Stephen Bowen pictured next to Dr Al Neyadi.
  • SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts pose for a portrait during a crew equipment integration test at the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left, in their pressure suits are, Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos; Pilot Warren 'Woody' Hoburg and Commander Stephen Bowen, both from Nasa; and Mission Specialist Sultan Alneyadi from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
    SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts pose for a portrait during a crew equipment integration test at the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left, in their pressure suits are, Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos; Pilot Warren 'Woody' Hoburg and Commander Stephen Bowen, both from Nasa; and Mission Specialist Sultan Alneyadi from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
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The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

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5) Identity theft

Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

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Updated: February 23, 2023, 6:47 PM